Effective Jan. 1, consumers can place
cardboard, paper, cans, plastic, and glass bottles in the same
container.

People dont have to continue
to separate things out and put them in different
containers, explains Sharon Root, of the Lyon County
Environmental Office. Beginning this month, materials saved for
recycling can be mixed together. Materials will be trucked to
recycling centers in the Twin Cities where items will be
separated.

Free curbside recycling services are
offered in all 13 Lyon County towns. Rural residents are
encouraged to bring their reusable materials to a recycling shed
located in a Lyon County town. All Lyon County towns have at
least one rural recycling shed. Marshall has three.

Root feels that the change should make
recycling much easier. Since Lyon County started a recycling
program in 1990, materials saved for recycling needed to be
separated for pick-up.

People can continue to place items saved
for recycling in Lyon Countys familiar green recycling
tubs. Root suggests that light itemssuch as paper and
plasticbe placed on the containers bottom to minimize
the threat of wind. Other containers can also be used, Root says,
but they must be clearly marked with the recycling logo.
Recycling containers also need to be small enough to be handled
easily, she stressed, and no larger than 18 to 30 gallons.

Green recycling tubs can be purchased at
the Lyon County Environmental Office in Marshall for $8.17.
Recycling containers can be bought at Tracy City Hall for $4.

Materials that are acceptable for
recycling are:

 Plastic marked with the recycling
logo.

 Tin cans.

 Aluminum cans.

 Glass containers with the lids
removed.

 Newspapers, flattened cardboard,
and magazines.

Flattening metal cans and plastic jugs
is optional, but preferred, since it saves space in both the home
and the recycling trucks. Removing labels from tin cans, glass
containers, and plastic containers is optional. All food
containers should be rinsed out.

Materials that can not be recycled
include: plastic bags and wrap, Styrofoam, waxy paper packaging
from refrigerated or frozen foods.

Lyon County has a contract with Waste
Management Services of Marshall to pick up household materials
that are saved for recycling. In Tracy, another hauler (Southwest
Sanitation) picks up residential garbage containers.

For more information, call the Lyon
County Environmental Office at 507-532-8210.

'06 precipitation varied
widely

By Seth Schmidt

For the third-straight year, weather at
the Southwest Research and Outreach Station near Lamberton was
wetter than historic averages.

Precipitation recorded at the University
of Minnesota ag center near Lamberton totaled 29.85 for
2006. Last years moisture was 18% less than the 36.32
logged in 2005, but still well-above the historic average
26.53 for Lamberton. The University of Minnesota research
center west of Lamberton has been tracking weather statistics
since 1960.

However, precipitation totals in the
immediate Tracy area were below historic norms. Kevin Haney
recorded 22.78 inches of precipitation in Tracy in 2006. (See
Weather Watch column page 13).

Annual precipitation totals at Lamberton
for five of the past seven years have exceeded historic norms.
The only exceptions occurred in 2002 (22.89) and 2003
(20.28).

The 2006 precipitation was timely for
farmers. Much of last years moisture fell in the spring and
early summer growing season. June was the years wettest
month with 9.39 of rain recorded at the Lamberton research
center.

Since Oct. 1, Southwest Minnesota
weather has been dry, with less than 3 of precipitation
falling in the last quarter of the year. October, November, and
December brought no measurable snow, a circumstance unprecedented
in recent history. The year ended with showers on Dec. 30-31, for
a total of 1.22 of precipitation. About an inch of wet snow
finally stuck to the ground on Jan. 1, New Years Day.
Snowfall for early 2006 was also light; just 17 of snow
recorded January through March of 2006. The years heaviest
snowfall occurred March 13, with 8 of white stuff falling.

Temperatures during the May 1 to Sept 30
growing season were just below average. Growing degree units for
the five-month period totaled 2,463 in 2006, compared with a
historic average of 2,532. But in the important months of June,
July, and August, growing degree units exceeded historic
averages. July had 11 days when the maximum temperature was at 90
degrees or above. The warmest period of 2006 occurred July 28
through August 1, when the mercury hit 90 degrees five days in a
row. July 31 and August 1 were the hottest days of 2006, each
with daily highs of 97.

A four-unit townhouse project planned
near the Tracy United Methodist Church could be ready for
occupancy as early as May.

Dan Anderson, president of North Star
Building Systems of Tracy and Marshall, says that three of the
townhouses are at various stages of completion in North
Stars factory facilities.

Its possible that we could
be ready to set them (on their foundations) by the middle of
February, Anderson said. North Star buildings are
constructed in sections indoors, then hauled to the site and
connected together.

Kendall Cooreman Contracting began
digging footings on Wednesday, and concrete was expected to be
poured for the foundations on Thursday.

The townhouses could be completed by
May, Anderson said.

The four-plex is being built on a
175x175-foot parcel of land south of the Methodist Church. The
units will face north, towards Morgan Street. Each two-bedroom
unit will have about 1,200 square feet and have its own attached
double garage.

Genesis One, as the project
is called, will have individual units for either rent or for
purchase, Anderson said.

Employee becomes DQ owner

The Dairy Queen in Tracy has a new
owner.

Jessica Sheets has purchased the Hwy. 14
restaurant from Ken and Brenda Hagert. The sale was effective
Friday, Dec. 29.

Im really excited about
this, the new owner said. This is a new adventure for
me. Sheets, 22, has been a Dairy Queen employee for the
past two years. She said shes enjoyed working at Dairy
Queen, knows the business well, and looks forward to the
challenge of being an owner.

This is a good opportunity for me.
Ive lived in Tracy all my life, and I know the
people.

The Hagerts, who live in Wanda, have
operated the owned the Tracy Dairy Queen for six years.

Its been a very good
business, Brenda Hagert said. We loved it the whole
time we had it. Its not like Ken and I sold it because we
were tired of it, because we werent. It just seemed like
this was a good time to sell.

Their recent adoption of three children
between the ages of 2-4, was one factor in their decision, Brenda
said. (The Hagerts also have a 12-year-old daughter). Another
influence was the opportunity to sell the business to a valued
employee.

She has been a very good employee
and has the knowledge of the business to be successful.
Shes a good person with ties to the community, and support
from her family, Hagert said.

Sheets, a 2003 Tracy Area High School
graduate, said she is grateful to her parents, Ken and Doris, for
helping provide financial backing to buy the business. She said
she also appreciates the support of the Dairy Queen employees who
will continue to work for her: Manager Barb Johnson, Holly Van
Meveren, Natalie Ankrum, Abby Knott, and Teresa Buetow.

We all help each other,
Sheets said of the employees.

The Dairy Queen will be run much as it
has in the past, Sheets indicated. But there will be changes too.

Sheets has decided to keep the Dairy
Queen open throughout the winter, rather than closing in January.
January hours will be between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. In February , the
hours will likely be extended to 8 p.m.. In the summer, the Dairy
Queen is open until 10 p.m.

So far, Sheets said, mild winter weather
has kept customers coming to Dairy Queen. It depends a lot
on the weather, she said.

The official name of the business is now
Dairy Queen of Tracy.

Italian youth adjusts
to American ways

By Valerie Scherbart Quist

At first glance, David Ottogalli seems
like the typical American teenager. He loves movies, playing
video games, and watching sports on television. His favorite
thing to eat? Hot dogs.

They are really good, he
said.

Ottogalli is an exchange student from
Italy, and is staying with the Stephen and Diane Ferrazzano
family. David said he decided to become an exchange student
because he wanted a change.

Everything was the same for
me, he said.

David had traveled to San Francisco with
his parents as a child, and often watched American movies.

I always liked America, he
said. People here are really friendly.

Davids hometown is about 20
minutes from Venice by train, he said. His family at home
includes dad Marco, mom Daniana, and sister Marta, who is 14.

One change for David while living with
the Ferrazzanos is that instead of having a younger sister, he
has a younger brother. David and host brother Stephen, 7, enjoy
watching the Rocky movies together and playing video
games.

Its cool having a little
brother, David said.

The Rocky movies are special
to David because Rocky is Italian. David said he recently enjoyed
seeing the latest in the series, Rocky Balboa.

School is going well for the
17-year-old, who said there are many differences between school
in the U.S. and school back home.

A lot of people think it is easier
but I dont think that it is, he said.

He said the teaching might not be as
difficult, but most students have jobs or participate in sports,
giving them less time to study. His classes include trigonometry,
computer, chemistry, and social.

David said it was difficult taking
classes in English the first week. He said it has gotten easier
since then as he has gotten used to learning in English and he is
able to understand more.

David participated in soccer in the fall
and plans to try baseball in the spring. In the interim, he is
doing weight training. Soccer was a sport he was well-acquainted
with, but he had never played baseball before coming to the U.S.

Watching American sports on TV are a
favorite pastime for the Italian teen. He especially enjoys
watching the Timberwolves, the Wild, and college football. Back
home, David and his dad are Yankees fans because Yankee player
Jason Giambi is Italian. However, he said, he likes watching the
Twins too.

David has adjusted well to life in
Tracy. He has made many friends and has friends pick him up for
school every day. He has attended different events in the area
with his host family and friends, and plans to travel to New York
in May. While there, he looks forward to seeing a Yankees game.
Enjoying Thanksgiving and Christmas with his host family have
been highlights of his stay so far.

This town is pretty cool,
David said. It is going good and I hope it will continue
to.

Upon returning home, David plans to get
his diploma and attend college either in Italy or in the U.S. He
is interested in a career in business/marketing, following in his
fathers footsteps.

In addition, the tables will turn for
David when he returns home and he will get a taste of what
its like to be a host brother. David said his parents plan
to host an exchange student of their own.

Lola Cooreman era ends
for Tracy Senior Dining

By Seth Schmidt

Life wasnt always a bowl of
cherries for Lola Cooreman at Tracy Senior Dining.

One morning Shirley (Heinrich)
came in to make dinner and the dishwasher had sprung a leak. We
had water all over, Cooreman remembers.

But the director, who retired last week
as Tracy Senior Dining director, says that the good times far
outnumber the bad during her tenure.

Its been fun. Weve had
our ups and down, but weve always made it. Im going
to miss all of the people.

The Tracy woman is looking forward to
the next chapter of her life.

Its time to do something
else. Ive got kids and grandkids to visit, and I like to
travel. When you have a job five days a week, its hard to
get away, Cooreman says.

The senior dining program offers a
nutritionally balanced noon meal Monday through Friday at the
Tracy Multi-Purpose Center. Home-delivered meals are also
offered.

Its not only the food,
its the fellowship, Cooreman says of the program.
It gets people out with other people. After lunch,
many people stay to play cards or play Bingo.

The program helps keep seniors healthy,
Cooreman says, because it is sometimes difficult for older people
living alone to make complete meals for just one or two people.

As senior dining manager, Cooreman has
been responsible for the programs administrative and record
keeping chores. She also shares nutrition information with
seniors, leads a short pre-meal program, and lines up guest
speakers and entertainment.

School groups and AFS students are among
the favorites. The Sam and Melissa Sahlstrom family, she adds, is
especially popular.

Anytime we have the Sahlstroms
singing, we will have a good turnout.

More home-delivered

Tracy Senior Dining typically serves
about 20 people each weekday in-house. Volunteers deliver another
25 to 30 meals to peoples homes. Each Monday, a weeks
worth of meals (one hot, and six frozen) are delivered to about
21 homes in the Garvin and Amiret areas.

Since she started in May of 1988, the
number of people eating meals at the senior center has declined,
while the home delivered meals has increased.

Its the opposite of what it
used to be, Cooreman says.

Two decades ago, Cooreman says that
Tracy Senior Dining might serve 50 people, and have only 8 to 10
home delivered meals.

Several factors are contributing to this
trend.

People are working longer,
she said. That has meant that fewer young retirees in their 60s
are coming to the noon meal.

Tracy didnt have an OBrien
Court in 1988. OBrien Court residents, she explains, can
have their meals served at OBrien Court.

More retirees are going south for the
winter compared with 18 years ago, Cooreman adds, which also
reduces potential numbers for senior dining.

People who count on home-delivered
meals, Cooreman said, tend to be older, and have greater
difficulty in getting out. Cooreman looks for the growth in home
delivered meals to continue.

  

Cooremans retirement coincides
with another change at Tracy Senior Dining.

Effective Jan. 2, Lutheran Social
Services is the regions new senior dining provider.
Lutheran Social Services succeeds Nutrition Services, Inc. of
Waseca, which has had the Region 8 senior dining contract for the
past three years. Cooreman said that she did not know who would
be assuming her duties as senior dining manager.